What Is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma is a gold or straw-colored solution that is made from a sample of your blood. Inside are platelets, which are small cell fragments that are best known for clotting. They also carry hundreds of growth factors and signaling proteins that direct tissue repair. When platelets arrive at an injury site, they release these growth factors to recruit stem cells. Platelets also stimulate new blood vessel formation and promote collagen production.
To create PRP, we draw blood from your arm and process it in a centrifuge that spins at a high speed and separates the components by weight. Red blood cells and other substances separate to the bottom, while the PRP sits on top. We isolate this and place it in a syringe for injection. This little sample contains three to five times the normal platelet concentration. It can be injected directly into a damaged joint, tendon or ligament, or used for other applications like skin rejuvenation and hair restoration.
How PRP Is Used for Orthopedic Problems
Most medications concentrate on minimizing pain without healing the tissue that is causing the discomfort. They also affect the whole body and can have side effects for the stomach, kidneys, liver and more with prolonged use. PRP provides the injured and inflamed tissue with a concentrated burst of biological repair signals. We place PRP injections at the precise location of your injury, whether inside a joint capsule or at the site of a ligament tear. Because this treatment is local and taken from your own body, there are no systemic side effects and the risk of reaction is extremely low.
PRP is not the right solution for everyone. Dr. Van Reken always evaluates each patient’s imaging studies, medical history and symptom severity to make sure PRP is appropriate. Some patients benefit from PRP alone, while others use it alongside physical therapy or surgical repair.
What Conditions Are Treated With Orthopedic PRP?
Orthopedic PRP injections in Reno are commonly done in those with joint, tendon, tendon sheath, ligament, cartilage, chronic sprain and/or arthritis issues. Common reasons for injecting PRP include arthritis in a joint, tendon damage, ligament rupture, tendinitis, nerve injuries, tennis elbow, rotator cuff shoulder problems, knee arthritis, chronic ankle sprains and many more.
How PRP Is Prepared for Orthopedic Applications
When preparing for orthopedic applications, we may draw between 30 and 60 cc of blood. Next, we add a small amount of anticoagulant to prevent the blood from clotting and then place it in a sterile, single-use processing kit. For orthopedic injections, the PRP is used without added anesthetic to preserve the biological activity of the growth factors. This process takes around 20 to 30 minutes, though this can vary from patient to patient.
How PRP Works in Orthopedics
Once injected, PRP activates and releases growth factors. These include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which attracts repair cells and stimulates cell divisions in the injured tissue. Another type, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-𝛃) helps with the formation of new connective tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF triggers the growth of small blood vessels to improve circulation to inflamed tissues like tendons and cartilage that naturally have poor blood supply. Limited blood flow is one reason that many orthopedic injuries heal slowly without help.
PRP triggers a helpful inflammatory response. While chronic inflammation degrades tissue, this controlled acute reaction recruits repair mechanisms instead. After PRP injections, new tissue gradually replaces damaged tissue in a process called remodeling.
PRP vs. Cortisone/Steroid Injections
Cortisone injections suppress inflammation and provide rapid pain relief, sometimes within hours. While this treatment has a place in orthopedics, some studies have shown that excessive use of cortisone injections can cause a faster breakdown of cartilage. This type of injection is often limited to two or three injections per year for this reason, which may not be enough relief for some patients. Steroid shots can also come with other potential side effects such as weight gain, higher blood sugar and higher blood pressure and only work for about a month.
PRP does not offer fast relief from discomfort, but it helps to heal the tissue so that the need for frequent pain relief decreases. This treatment offers long-lasting improvement and improved joint health.
How Many PRP Treatments Will I Need?
Small areas of injury such as a tennis elbow often do well with just one injection. Chronic arthritic conditions often require two to three treatments for best results. During your consultation, we will discuss the severity of your concern and discuss how many treatments you can expect and the amount of relief that PRP can provide.
How Well Does PRP Work for Orthopedic Problems?
If you have milder problems, we often work toward the goal of a complete relief of your symptoms. For advanced arthritis a 50-75% reduction in pain and avoiding a joint replacement surgery may be a reasonable goal. Very severe problems such as bone on bone arthritis requiring a total knee replacement can often be helped with PRP. However, arthritis pain reduction results are not nearly as good with severe arthritis as with milder disease.
Preparing for Your PRP Injections
We may have you stop taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin one to two weeks before your appointment. A study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine showed that these drugs can suppress the inflammatory response that PRP depends on and decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. You may also need to pause other medications or supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E and turmeric.
You can talk to Dr. Van Reken to find out what types of pain relief are suitable during this time period. If you take one of these medications for other reasons, such as heart health, you will discuss this as well before making any medication changes.
Right before your appointment, stay hydrated to make the blood draw easier and to improve the quality of the PRP. You can also eat a normal meal beforehand to keep yourself from feeling lightheaded after the blood draw. Let us know of any changes in your health or medications before your treatment.
What Are PRP Injections Like?
The types and sizes of needles that we use for PRP treatments are similar to those used for other orthopedic injections, such as Kenalog injections. However, with orthopedic PRP injections, no lidocaine is added to the injection material, so there will be an increase in your pain levels after injection. This is usually moderate and decreases within two hours of the injection. Some patients continue to have mild pain in the area for a day or two. A sensation of fullness in the injected area is common. Dr. Van Reken has received knee, shoulder and ankle injections himself and can give you a detailed breakdown of what to expect, from the perspective of someone who has experienced the treatment.
Post-Treatment Care and Recovery
The treated area may feel sore, warm and swollen for 24 to 48 hours. This is a normal part of the healing response. Brief icing can help with comfort, but avoid continuous icing since some inflammation is beneficial early on. Continue to avoid anti-inflammatory medications for at least two weeks after your treatment. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is acceptable for pain relief.
We recommend finding a balance when it comes to activity. Light movement is good to help with circulation and healing, but avoid any heavy exercise for one to two weeks. You may benefit from physical therapy several weeks after injections to strengthen the area as the tissue heals.
What Factors Can Affect PRP Results?
Clinical results vary depending on medical history, age, prior joint or orthopedic tissue damage, prior surgery, severity of orthopedic damage on imaging studies, clinical severity of orthopedic symptoms, duration of symptoms prior to treatment, compliance with pre and post treatment instructions and individual response to treatment. Patients with orthopedic surgery recently done or scheduled soon may have additional benefit and more rapid healing when PRP injections are used with surgery.
PRP as an Alternative to Joint Replacement Surgery
PRP injections in Reno are now being considered an alternative to total knee replacement in some patients. Some patients with knee arthritis are too young to be ideal candidates for a replacement that may need revision in 15 to 20 years. Others have health conditions that make major surgery risky. In these situations, PRP can offer pain reduction and functional improvement that allows patients to stay active and delay surgery, sometimes by several years. Dr. Van Reken has seen this firsthand with patients at Reno Sparks MedSpa who have postponed or avoided knee replacement after a series of PRP treatments.
PRP in Combination With Orthopedic Surgery
PRP injections in Reno can also be given in conjunction with surgery, such as rotator cuff surgeries or knee ligament repairs. When used alongside surgical repair, PRP is typically injected at the surgical site during or shortly after the operation. The growth factors support early tissue healing, which may improve the strength of the repair. Orthopedic surgeons have increasingly adopted this approach because PRP carries minimal additional risk and may accelerate recovery. Patients who receive PRP as part of their surgical plan may experience faster return to function compared to surgery alone.
A Closer Look at Orthopedic Conditions
Knee Arthritis
PRP has become one of the most studied treatments for knee arthritis, with clinical trials showing improvements in pain and function up to twelve months after treatment. The knee joint responds well because the injection can be placed directly into the joint capsule where it can surround the damaged tissue with growth factors.
Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Problems
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons that stabilize the shoulder. Partial tears and chronic tendon degeneration are common in patients over 50 and those who perform repetitive overhead movements. PRP can help in this area by promoting tissue remodeling and can be used alongside physical therapy to help patients regain strength without surgical repair.
Tennis Elbow
Despite its name, most people develop lateral epicondylitis from repetitive work activities rather than tennis. This condition involves degeneration of the tendons on the outer elbow. PRP has outperformed cortisone at the one-year mark in randomized trials with longer documented relief.
Chronic Ankle Sprains and Ligament Laxity
PRP can help to strengthen weakened ligaments in the ankles after an injury and provide relief from discomfort. This can be helpful for those who are experiencing chronic ankle injuries that are stretched or torn repeatedly and are having a difficult time healing.
Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy
Both the plantar fascia on the sole of the foot and the Achilles tendon bear heavy force with every step. When either becomes chronically inflamed or starts to degenerate, it can take time for the pain to resolve because of the limited blood supply in these areas. PRP provides the additional stimulus your body needs to heal these areas.
Nerve Injuries
Growth factors in PRP support nerve regeneration by promoting repair of the myelin sheath, the protective coating around nerve fibers. PRP is being used for peripheral nerve conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and other compression injuries. This type of treatment is still being studied, but may have benefits for patients who have not responded to other treatments.
Does Insurance Cover PRP Injections?
Insurance still does not usually cover PRP orthopedic injections, but this is changing. As clinical research supporting PRP grows, more carriers are reconsidering their coverage policies. Some plans now offer partial coverage for specific orthopedic applications, and workers’ compensation programs have started covering PRP in certain cases. The Reno Sparks MedSpa team can help you understand insurance and payment options.
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP Injections
How soon after my PRP injection will I start feeling better?
Results of orthopedic PRP are usually seen by 12 weeks. The healing process with this treatment takes time because new tissue needs to form and mature before providing support. You may begin to experience early pain relief between four and eight weeks after your injection.
How long do the results of orthopedic PRP last?
For those with mild to moderate arthritis or tendon injuries, benefits from a single treatment or short series can last a year or longer. Degenerative conditions like arthritis may require periodic maintenance treatments as ongoing wear and tear continues.
Can PRP be repeated if my symptoms come back?
Additional treatments can be given when needed to improve recurring symptoms. Because it uses your own blood, PRP does not come with a risk of the body building a tolerance. This treatment is also not associated with weakening of tissue that may occur with repeated cortisone injections.
Are there any patients who should not receive PRP orthopedic injections?
Patients who have active infections, certain blood disorders or cancer affecting the blood may not be good candidates for this treatment. Those on blood-thinning medications may need to talk to their prescribing physician for guidance about suitability and dosing. Dr. Van Reken will review your complete medical history during your consultation to make sure there are no contraindications.
Why Choose Reno Sparks MedSpa for PRP Orthopedic Injections?
Dr. Calvin H. Van Reken brings decades of medical experience to his PRP treatments at Reno Sparks MedSpa. As an internal medicine physician who has personally received PRP injections in his own knees, shoulders and ankle, he understands this treatment from the provider and the patient perspectives.
Reno Sparks MedSpa offers PRP for orthopedic conditions, aesthetic treatments and hair restoration. You will enjoy the personal attention of a smaller practice with all of the benefits of an experienced physician who was named one of the Best Doctors in America two years in a row.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are dealing with joint pain, tendon damage or a chronic orthopedic condition, Reno Sparks MedSpa in Reno, NV can help you explore whether PRP is right for you. Call 775-358-1717 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Van Reken, or fill out an online form.
Powered by Crystal Clear Digital Marketing Reviews
